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Myrionema strangulans (Chordariales, Phaeophyceae) epiphyte on Ulva spp. (Ulvophyceae) from Patagonian Atlantic coasts

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Abstract

Fronds of Ulva spp. from Patagonian Atlantic coasts exhibited brown spots produced by the presence of Myrionema strangulans (Chordariales, Phaeophyceae). The occurrence of M. strangulans on Ulva spp. is widely reported from several regions of the world, but there were no detailed studies about the subject. In the present study, we describe the morphology and interactions of M. strangulans with Ulva spp. as observed under light and electron microscopes, and we reconstruct all stages of its life cycle based upon in vitro experiments. The prevalence of infection by M. strangulans was 100%. In case of the strongest epiphytism, the host cuticle exhibited perforations, massive depigmentation, cellular disorganization, and cuticle rupture. It was possible to demonstrate a purely epiphytic life strategy of the organism by transmission electron microscopy. M. strangulans formed discoid thalli constituted by vegetative filaments and radiating from a central zone to a peripheral zone. Transversally, the discs were formed by two strata: a basal monostromatic and a filamentous erect stratum. From the monostromatic stratum, hyaline hairs and reproductive structures were produced. Both plurilocular and unilocular sporangia were present. Zoids from both plurilocular and unilocular sporangia were able to germinate in culture. M. strangulans exhibited a haploid–diploid, heteromorphic life cycle with thalli with three different morphologies. The haploid chromosome number was 12 ± 2 chromosomes.

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Acknowledgments

MCG is a post-doctoral research fellow from the National Council of Scientific and Technical Research of Argentina (CONICET) and ERP is a researcher of CONICET. EJC is a researcher of the Commission of Scientific Research of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina (CIC). Support was provided by grants from the Secretaría de Ciencia y Tecnología de la Universidad Nacional del Sur (PGI CSU-24/B145) and CONICET (PIP-11220100100503). We are also grateful to Bch. Croce, María Emilia for her participation in the first instances of this work.

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  1. Laboratorio de Ecología Acuática, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Juan 670, B8000FTN, Bahía Blanca, Argentina

    Amira Gabriela Siniscalchi, María Cecilia Gauna & Elisa R. Parodi

  2. CONICET–CCTBBca, Laboratorio GIBEA, Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (I.A.D.O.), Camino Carrindanga 7.5 km, B8000FWB, Bahía Blanca, Argentina

    Amira Gabriela Siniscalchi, María Cecilia Gauna & Elisa R. Parodi

  3. Laboratorio de Ficología y Micología, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur—CIC, San Juan 670, B8000FTN, Bahía Blanca, Argentina

    Eduardo J. Cáceres

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  1. Amira Gabriela Siniscalchi
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Siniscalchi, A.G., Gauna, M.C., Cáceres, E.J. et al. Myrionema strangulans (Chordariales, Phaeophyceae) epiphyte on Ulva spp. (Ulvophyceae) from Patagonian Atlantic coasts. J Appl Phycol 24, 475–486 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-012-9798-0

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